Company Details

We were a “single day late” for payment and charged a late penalty. in our deeds no where does it state that we should pay this but we were threatened by bailiffs and an increase in the fine. A company to avoid nasty, nasty company. Alex Middleton should be ashamed of himself what a crook.

Greenbelt's billing is impossible to understand with how they work out their figures. Every time you download a bill it gives the date you downloaded it as the bill date this is incorrect. They claim they are maintaining public land for a management fee but they are maintaining their own land as they have bought it from the contractors. When you speak to them on the phone querying your bill they do not have the facts correct. One person on the phone was claiming a person rung to answer a query 1 month before we even emailed with the question. We have had to pay for a replacement buoy for the suds lake twice in one year with no explanation with what happened to them. This suds is owned by green belt and is available to all members of the public not just residents. This buoy line was also charged at £120 to residents but they can be purchased for approx £30 how much profit? If they are on site inspecting and working as much as they claim to be would £90 be a reasonable fitting cost? I don't think so especially as it would only take a few minutes. And to charge for this twice? It doesn't matter how much it costs per resident if the billing is not transparent, value for money and ultimately correct. Edit - apparently they haven't bought the land they have acquired the land. Regardless how this land has been acquired it is greenbelt's land and they charge people to upkeep it with a billing system that is not transparent or correct. And I would ring but when the replies you get are not factually correct what would be the point? Update - the date is one of many issues which we have spoken to greenbelt about and have asked for clarification and explanation of charges as your billing system is not transparent, accurate or correct. We are waiting for a response from greenbelt as the last person we spoke to claimed we had, had a response 1 month before we raised the question so they are still looking into it. If the person who is responding to this review from greenbelt is the one who can answer questions I suggest they are the person who receives and responds to emails.

Still an absolute tragedy of a set up. Believe me this is the next PPI scandal waiting to happen but unfortunately Middleton and his mob will disappear leaving home owners out of pocket. 4 years now a manhole broken open by their contractors has not been repaired risking the chance of a small child falling in. It has been reported way back to my MP who is aware and I am watching to see which "monthly inspection" picks up on it. The clock is ticking on this crowd, I have also been in touch with local councillors to see if I can at least use the payments we make towards the local authority to upkeep the land where it will be put back into the local communities instead of lining pockets of unethical types like Greenbelt. Karma gets them all eventually, just a matter of time before the rest catch it too. Additional info, Looking back through my emails my last contact with my elected MP was on the 28th of Jan 2018, this included images of the broken and uncovered manhole as well as other issues raised at the time. This would mean that approximately 17 "monthly inspections" have been carried out without your inspector noticing the danger/damage. Information about this issue WAS sent to your company but as it seems you like to bounce back emails instead of dealing with them it is no surprise they were either ignored or not received,I really would consider getting yourself a decent web host if you cannot deal with the amount of correspondence you have to deal with. I have the emails with attached images as I am sure my MP and local councillors do. And just to clarify, it was YOUR contractors who broke the manhole by running the grass cutter too close to the edge. And another point, if your "professional" inspectors were doing their job correctly, why would it be up to the public and their representatives to have to report any deficiencies found? Surely this defeats the point of having your monthly inspections when the public are having to do your job for you? You never listen anyway or reply so its a pointless exercise.

I have been asking greenbelt to assist me with a problem tree since 2015, yes 2015! greenbelt took over responsibility for a public woodland area on the David Wilson estate where I live once building had finished. this woodland area is located behind my fences and this tree was planted too close to my fences. it was obviously not anticipated how big the tree would grow. it's enormous in height and it's massive trunk and branches are making holes in my fences, pushing them forward to the point they will soon collapse and the giant roots are making mounds in my garden. after my first email greenbelt promised they would investigate but they never did. subsequently they do not reply to my further emails, or on the odd occasion they have responded they have not helped in any way or investigated. there is no way to get hold of them by phone. I am at my wits end as I don't know who else to go to. I can't cut the tree down as I will probably get fined and I can't change the fences until I know what's happening with the tree. I'm in limbo. even David Wilson had no luck getting a decent answer from greenbelt and confirmed I am not the only person to have problems with them. I thought it was because I'm not a paying customer (I am a resident on the David Wilson estate), but reading all the reviews I note that even paying customers are having big problems. I have never come across such incompetence and rudeness. even a simple courtesy email would be a start.

The estate that Greenbelt manage (Alltami Heath) always seems to have the contractors arrive at 8am on a Saturday morning to cut and strim all the grassed areas, subsequently waking everyone up. We've emailed Greenbelt asking them to consider the residents who have obviously all been working during the week and deserve a lie-in and they've not responded once - not a bean. In fact, the cutters are outside now!! UPDATE - based on the feedback from Greenbelt, I've increased my score. The grounds are maintained quite well (could be better with grass left after cut rather than taking away). UPDATE 2 - 8am on a Saturday morning and the contractors have chainsaws cutting hedges, waking the entire estate. The contractors wear ear defenders as the noise is too loud. What about the rest of us?

Late fee charges. Not allowed. Claim it back if you have ever been charged. Get EVERYTHING from this company in writing. Do not do Anything over the phone with them. 45% of our bill is admin/Site inspection charges. Unjustified!!! It is being worked on to outlaw these maintenance charges on new properties. It will happen and eventually they will be gone. If your housing developer has gone bust, Greenbelt have no hold over you. They won’t tell you this voluntarily. Once it stops and these type of companies are banished it will filter through and we will be rid of the forever If it isn’t written in your deeds you don’t have to pay late payment fees

No point in calling the dedicated customer care team as they will not speak to anyone on our whole estate. No point emailing as they do not reply. No point in trying to query any trumped up charge as they just ignore you. Please avoid any housing development in which Greenbelt are involved. That is my honest review of this company. Update following Greenbelt response: I am very well aware that Trustpilot is a third party website. It is in fact a review platform. I have used the platform to write a review. Warning others to avoid your company.

Still very expensive grass cutting service, you say I am mistaken, would you like me to post photos of broken fences, downed trees, litter, overgrown areas, dead plants, I will gladly go and take some. As for management coming, please tell him to give me a wave so I know he’s here. Your customer services and the guy who came to see me told me grass would be cut every week and the area behind me would be cut twice a year so talk to your staff as they are lying to customers who pay our very expensive grass cutting service, I am not mistaken you are. Tell your supervisor that I will show him the tree that blew down over three years ago and the broken fences as he obviously doesn’t see it for some reason when he does a site inspection. Very expensive grass cutting service as this is all they seem to do, fences are left broken for over two years now, fallen trees just left, no weeding done, no plants replaced, greenbelt informed me that they cut the grass every week in summer, apparently not this year. I have complained to greenbelt they sent someone out but nothing changed. Never have I seen anyone out inspecting the site and feel we are giving money for very little return, perhaps if they cut back on their management we would get value for money, and that is what people want value for money.

My personal complaint and issue with this company is the completly unjustified flat rate admin fee that takes up 45% of the total bill. I would be happy to pay for the maintenance of my holdings but the greed of greenbelt to add a doubling admin fee is ridiculous.

Grass not cut often enough. Litter bins not emptied often enough. Almost half of the fees invoiced to us appear to consist of 'inspection', management or administration costs. Terrible.

** update - I know trustpilot is independent, that is why I shared details of some of the issues we have on our development from the poor services offered by Greenbelt via their sub contractors. They really are a horrible company and I wish I didn’t have to deal with them. ** Work subcontracted (I have never seen a Greenbelt vehicle) and not always to a good standard. Bins regularly overflowing, both litter and dog waste. Invoices have lots of lines but very few details, and Greenbelt never answer questions properly e.g. ‘what is this charge for?’. Management and Admin charges are particularly galling. Over-zealous cash collection, very quick to threaten court action and bailiffs and I have yet to see or hear any evidence of positive customer service. They definitely do not provide the service that our developer led us to believe we would pay for. I hope the growing number of MPs getting involved in the so-called ‘fleecehold’ debate can bring some action. It is not clear what value Greenbelt add for customers at any stage of their operations. Bitterly disappointed and if I had known what sort of company I would have to deal with I would not have bought a house on this development.

Never see them or there contractors doing any work,billed for work that was not even on our estate,never answer phone,respond to emails but don’t actually answer the questions you ask. Daylight robbery

Greenbelt request that you call their ‘dedicated customer helpline’ so you have no record of what is said by them during the conversation. This has happened to myself on more than one occasion where Greenbelt denied any knowledge of the phone calls made, so I subsequently put all correspondence in writing so I have a record of what is said and also so Greenbelt can not deny any knowledge of them regardless whether they keep a record or not. Greenbelt fail to respond to these emails yet I know they receive it as I get automated responses. On the single occasion where Greenbelt did reply I provided irrefutable evidence to them (which also was supported by my solicitor) and when told they would look into it, I never heard from them again! Each year for the past 4 years despite them receiving the information the issue has not only still not been resolved but purely ignored. Message to Greenbelt, don’t ask me to call your helpline or resend the emails, you have all the information already. A certain employee is fully aware of the issue in full detail as he found out 1st hand when he received a copy of my deeds! UPDATE You ask me to get in touch with you but as already stated ‘you have all the information already’. Also I mentioned for you not to request to call or resend the emails and you do exactly that! This shows you do not read the reviews properly or are incapable of understanding it. Your billing manager said they would look into it and failed to address it so I fail to see that you will do any different when you are of a lower position. Also there is no confusion as to who I contacted, I’ve never contacted Greenbelt energy. Stop trying to make excuses!

Greenbelt smashed my window! This happened two weeks ago by there grass cutter contractor’. My daughter was in at the time and took photos for evidence. If she was not in I would not have had a clue how my window was smashed. I complained to them straight away only to get a response stating nothing to do with us it’s the contractor I have to deal with. Well I’m sorry green belt but I pay you to keep the grounds round my house cut and I will always channel my complaints through you. It is then up to you to get my window fixed by what ever means possible. You know who I am and I will simply stop paying the fee until the balance is squared up on what I am going to have to pay the joiner. If any councillors or politicians are reading this then please tell this forum a way on how to get rid of Greenbelt from our grounds. There must be away. 18 days and counting Greenbelt. I appreciate accidents can happen but how this is being handled is very unprofessional. Why can’t you just get my window fixed? You pay the contractor the money we pay you. If I pay the contractor direct then I would take my complaint to the contractor. Take responsibility here and get my window fixed. Start caring for the people that pay your wages.

Your developer will very likely quickly gloss over the involvement of Greenbelt in your estate and will certainly not disclose the true nature of arrangement you are being lumbered with. They will likely quickly mention that the estate is maintained by a 'factor' and leave it it at that unless pushed. Greenbelt will likely comment on this by saying they are not a factor although covered by the property factors act, but are actually a land maintenance company etc etc etc. But a factor is how they were described to me. No mention of them being the land owner, inability to ever replace them or that they are free to charge whatever they like and do as they see fit. Greenbelt will likely comment that the AMC is capped to RPI but fail to mention that every 5 years they are able to increase this by whatever they see fit to 'realign to true costs', or that they have a pretty much open ended list of extras that have no limit to cost that they are free to add in at will. Anything relating to a playpark, other than their quarterly inspection is extra. Fixing anything anywhere is extra. Pretty much anything other than cutting the grass and having a look about is extra. Search for the scottish lands tribunal case 'LTS-TC-2014-27' Michael Joseph Marriott and another (applicants) v Greenbelt Group Limited (respondents), for more information about what customers have had to go through to address the relationship with this company. ****Thought my review could do with an update***** Nothings really changed. Maintenance is still mediocre at best - still little more than cutting the grass. Except when they are taking someone in the estate to court, then they come and manicure the place to take lots of photos to show the court how well they look after the place.......

Greenbelt in my opinion is a company that deserves to be investigated for its substandard practices. They do not deliver the service that should be expected, they also hit you with extra charges for cutting back trees on their own land that is blocking your sunlight out. To top it all, if you phone them you are on a premium rate phone call. If you do get to converse with someone, don’t expect to get the full story from them, they are deceitful!!

I am loath even to give this company 1 star. My experience over the last 14 years with them has been woeful. No regard for residents views or interaction. I feel I pay extortionate fees for slovenly workmanship with no opportunity to give feedback. They are not value for money in my opinion. Each year the fees increase yet the maintenance of the established green areas should decrease. Fourteen years later they still annually replace planting with the same species.....because they have failed to 'take'. I wrote to them to explain they need to change species but was ignored. My complaint actually cost additional fees as they called in a horticultural 'expert' and then charged for it. Company is a joke. Avoid if you can. Unfortunately I am stuck with these rip off artists.

Not trusting wit evidence of work carried out. Nothing dated. Make it up as they go along .. absolutely ripped off with the bill. They don’t attend meetings. And it’s defo not a green belt van that comes to carry the work out. I’d like a say in which company acts on my money. I could get a company cheaper to carry out ground work. I bet .. they don’t ask anyone for their views yet it’s all out estate who is paying for it .. no communication between when you do ring or email. The pictures of said work. One was on a insurance claim yet they too claimed the money back by charging everyhouse on the estate. Shocking. They should be looked into. I bet all the MP s own this company. Another rip off to add to it all .. it’s not fair .. all I want is fairness

Not only do they keep on upping the charge, I have found they can also stop the sale of your house, or in my case , just a simple removal of a name from the deeds, you will require a simple compliance certificate from them to allow you to complete, for which they , at present charge £60.00, in my opinion, this is an insidious way of making money, House builders and councils need to take full responsibility for allowing companies like Green belt to impose their unfair charges on their Buyers and residents.

We received our Greenbelt invoice for their next lot of unexplained payments. I emailed them with lots of questions and they replied with another question. When I attempted to reply, they blocked my email address. Therefore I replied with another email address to get a response. They had an excuse as to why this occurred but I’m not the first person they have blocked. One of my many questions was that we had been billled an extortionate amount of money for planting, but there was no evidence of this. Their reply was that they had made a mistake in the invoice and this money was for painting fencing. They backed this up with photos of a paint tray and painted fences. No dates were in evidence and it could have been anywhere at any date in the past. You never receive any detailed evidence to back up what they say they have done. A neighbour asked them to let him know when they did a site visit and he would tag along. This has never happened. Greenbelt are not transparent in their dealings but happily take people’s money. I would also suggest that If you intend to communicate with Greenbelt on any issue, put it in writing.